**Rahal Discusses Impact of John Force’s Injury on Their Family**
In the high-stakes world of professional auto racing, the emotional toll on families is often overlooked. American motorsport boasts many renowned family names, including the Rahals in IndyCar and the Forces in drag racing. These two families united when Graham Rahal, a seasoned IndyCar racer and son of 1986 Indy 500 winner Bobby Rahal, married Courtney Force, a retired but highly successful drag racer and daughter of NHRA legend John Force.
Recently, the Force family faced a major crisis when John, a 16-time NHRA Funny Car champion, sustained a traumatic brain injury in a fiery 300 mph crash at Virginia Motorsports Park on June 23. He was airlifted to the hospital with a broken sternum and right wrist injury, spending several days in intensive care under heavy sedation before being transferred to a neuro care unit. After 15 days in the hospital, he was moved to a neurological rehab center, where he is dealing with cognitive and behavioral symptoms and remains prone to periods of confusion.
Graham Rahal, who has two children with Courtney, spoke candidly about the crash’s impact on their family. He watched the crash live on TV while his wife was napping and immediately informed her. He described the incident as terrifying, with John’s car exploding in flames after a 302 mph run and crashing into concrete barriers. Rahal acknowledged that racing drivers understand the dangers of their profession, referencing the deaths of his close friends Justin Wilson and Dan Wheldon.
Rahal emphasized the emotional challenges following Force’s accident, noting the uncertainty and numerous questions about John’s condition in the immediate aftermath. He reflected on the mental toll of past tragedies in the racing community, including his own struggle to move past the loss of Justin Wilson.
With Graham’s demanding IndyCar schedule and Courtney at her father’s bedside, the family has had to adapt and support each other through this difficult time. Rahal praised the teamwork within the family and acknowledged the long road ahead for John’s recovery. He expressed gratitude for the support from IndyCar’s neurosurgeon, Dr. Vargas, and remained hopeful about John’s prospects for improvement.
